Meriam Ibrahim: Husband Says Embassy No Help in Christian Wife's Case

The United States government is “fully engaged” in reaching out to the Sudanese government in the case of Meriam Ibrahim, a new mother sentenced to death in that country for her Christian beliefs.

Ibrahim, who is married to Daniel Wani, a U.S. citizen and a Christian, was jailed and faces execution for failing to recant Christianity. Ibrahim just gave birth in prison this week, and the sentence will be carried out after she is allowed to breastfeed for two years.

“Through the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, the White House and the State Department, we have communicated our strong concern at high levels of the Sudanese government about this case,” State Department spokeswoman Nicole Thompson said, Fox News reported. “We have heard from many, many Americans that they are deeply alarmed by [Ibrahim’s] plight. We have conveyed these views to the Government of Sudan.”

More than 1 million people have signed online petitions asking that Ibrahim be released from prison.

In a transcript of an interview with Wani, he was quoted as saying, “When the problem began the U.S. consul here had a very negative position on this. She was very high handed. (In English) she's very, very rude. She said — and I quote — (in English) ‘I don't have time.’ I said (in English) ‘listen’. (Back to Arabic) Because this case is a difficult. “

But Wani is hopeful that the hundreds of thousands of people speaking out through governments and rights groups will make a difference, he told CNN.

“The media has really supported us. To the extent that my phone now doesn't stop! The calls are overwhelming. I want to thank everyone for this stand. It's looking like it had an effect,” he said. “Perhaps it will result in the judgment being overturned.”